Picker-strap holder for looms



{No Model.)

L. WIJMILLIKEN. PIGKER STRAP HOLDER FOR LOOMS.

No. 508,550. 'PatentedNo'fl 14, 1893.

\NVENTEIR. d/immutlw wl TN Eases.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

LEMUEL 'w. M'ILLIKEN, on FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS.

PlCKER-STRAFHOLDER FOR LOOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,550,'dated November 14, 1893. Application filed January 23. 1891. Serial No. 378,795. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEMUEL W; MILLIKEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin,inthe county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picker 1 Strap Holders for Looms; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the construction of looms, it has been usual heretofore, so far as I am aware, to actuate the shuttle back and forth in its box by means of a suitably operated strap'or' connection attached'directly to the picker-carrying sticks.

An objection to attaching the picker-strap to the picker-stick in the usual manner is that the strap, generally made of leather, soon becomes worn out at the point of attachment owing to the changing angular movement and varying surface contact produced during each reciprocation of the picker-stick such movement destroys the life of the leather at the point named long before the other portions of the strap and necessitates-a frequent renewal of the strap end, thereby for the time being not only losing the production of the loom butincreasing the cost for repairs.

The object'I have in View is to overcome the disadvantages common to looms provided with picker-straps attached to the pickersticks as usual. To that end my invention consists essentially of a metallic base piece adapted to be firmly securedto the driving side of the picker-stick anda holder jointed to said base arranged to receive, support and hold the picker-strap in position, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

By means of my improvement, termed a picker-strap lug}? the wear upon the strap is substantially uniform throughout, thereby greatly increasing its durability. The strap, moreover, may be readily and quickly attached to or detached from the lug or holder when desired.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings,

-of the holder or hook-piece c.

Figurel is a side elevation of a portion of a loom,'showingthe picker-stick provided with my improved picker-strap holder or lug, as in use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation in partial section showing the device as in use, the picker-stick being in its extreme position, the relation of the parts corresponding to that I assumed preparatory to throwing a shuttle.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, the parts being in the other extreme position, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line a; 00 of Fig. 2.

A more detailed description of my invention,including the manner of its operation is as follows;

a, referring to the drawings indicates the device as a Whole, consisting of the two parts or pieces I) and c jointed together and secured by bolts or screws m to the picker-stick 19. The holder 0 is made of suitable metal as brass, malleable iron, steel, &c. The width of the base b is substantially the same as the thickness of the picker-stick p, the latter being made of wood and mounted and operated substantially as common. The center of the base is provided with ears h arranged to receive similar ears formed on the adjacent face 7 A joint pin 11 serves to connect the two parts. The outer face of the holder 0 is rounded, as at 0 to re ceive the bent leather strap-end s. The holder is further provided with an outer lip-or extension c' at the bottom and a short extension or stop 0 at the top. The former serves to retain the strap in position, the stop at the same time-preventing the strap from rising out of the hook. g

Picker-straps as usually constructed, consist of the main portion 8, of wood, leather or other suitable substance, having attached thereto at each end a bent yoke piece 8 of leather. The manner of connecting said ends to the main part 3' and intermittingly opere ating the strap to throw the shuttle back and forth is substantially as usual and forms no part of my present invention.

In lieu of attaching the strap end so as to bear directly upon the outer edge of the picker-stick 10 as common, I interpose between their adjacent faces the jointed lug or holder at constituting my present invention, as clearly represented by the drawings. By this arrangement the ends 8 of the picker-strap in its movements to and fro are retained in a practically vertical position at all points throughout, the pressure or strain being equally borne by the curved faces 0 of the hook-pieces c, the latter by means of the joint 71 and plate I) accommodating itself to the vibratory movement of the picker-stick. The upper portion of the picker-stick p is provided as usual with a suitable picker 15 adapted to engage the end of a shuttle. This also forms no part of my invention.

I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent- 1. As an improved article of manufacture the metallic picker-strap holder or lug for the picker-sticks of looms, substantially as hereinbefore described, consisting of the base portion adapted to be rigidly secured to a pickerstick and a U-shape holder portion jointed to said base arranged to receive and support the strap and having the adjacent faces of the base and holder arranged to permit a free vibrating movement of the stick, as set forth.

2. The combination with the base I) adapted to be secured to a loom picker-stick, of the strap-holder c jointed to the base, at or near its center, having an upturned outer lip c and a top extension 0 substantially as described.

3. The combination with the picker-stick and the picker-strap having its outer end looped and inclosing said stick, of the base 17 secured to the picker-stick and the hook or holder portion 0 jointed to the base, and having its outer face curved and provided with projections adapted to retain the strap in position and at the same time forming a seat therefor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig- 

